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Nearshore Lake Superior invertebrate biodiversity patterns from two high-density surveys
Citation:
Trebitz, A., J. Hoffman, G. Peterson, C. Hatzenbuhler, J. Barge, AND A. Szczepanski. Nearshore Lake Superior invertebrate biodiversity patterns from two high-density surveys. International Association of Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) Virtual Conference, Duluth, MN, May 17 - 21, 2021. https://doi.org/10.23645/epacomptox.14787702
Impact/Purpose:
Presentation to the International Association of Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) Virtual Conference May 2021. In the course of conducting broad spectrum early-detection monitoring for aquatic invasive species, ORD collects a considerable number of biological samples that are then available for analyzing biodiversity in general. Such analyses help to understand factors driving biological patterns, refine sampling designs, and provide a baseline against which to evaluate biological composition changes. One of the surveys being analyzed was motivated by a request for help from the National Park Service (NPS) in understanding the distribution and potential impacts of Dreissenid mussels in waters of the Apostle Island National Lakeshore; the other was motivated more generally by efforts to resolve early-detection monitoring strategies. This work was conducted under SSWR research area 3.01A-2.1 and informs not only early-detection monitoring but also Great Lakes biological assessment efforts in general.
Description:
Despite recognition that invertebrate fauna in nearshore regions of the Great Lakes can differ substantially from offshore regions, datasets amenable to exploring nearshore biodiversity patterns remain limited. Here, we use two spatially intensive Lake Superior nearshore invertebrate surveys to explore taxa prevalence patterns, differences from offshore communities, non-native taxa occurrence, spatial covariance, and environmental factors. Data come from ~290 benthos samples from the Bayfield Peninsula coastline (year 2013) and ~100 zooplankton and ~150 benthos samples from the Apostle Islands (year 2017) that collectively contain 25+ crustacean zooplankton taxa and ~400 benthos taxa. Over 30% of zooplankton and 60% of benthos taxa were numerically rare (at <2% of stations) and several appeared on state rare-species lists. Besides Bythotrephes, non-native species came primarily from benthic oligochaetes, amphipods, and mollusks. Within the 30m depth cutoff typically used to define 'nearshore', we found considerable variability in community composition related to depth, exposure, and substrate.
URLs/Downloads:
DOI: Nearshore Lake Superior invertebrate biodiversity patterns from two high-density surveys
TREBITZ_SLIDES.PDF (PDF, NA pp, 1319.658 KB, about PDF)